Micro grants for sponsoring local chapter startups

It's not clear to me that forming a non-profit entity is necessary for new chapters.

http://enablealliance.org/ is already offering fiscal sponsorships.

Rochester Enable (Re-NABLE) hopes to offer that soon using the opencollective platform. The chapter could advertise for, accept, and document tax-deductible donations through their opencollective page. The money goes into a bank account maintained by REL. All donations and expenses are documented transparently on opencollective. There is a 10% total transaction fee between OpenCollective plus Re-NABLE).

Agree, forming a non-profit is not for the faint of heart.

There are also yearly legal and financial requirements that must be met, which drain time and funds.

So unless you are able to utilize your non-profit to greatly enhance your fundraising or grant applications, think

about it before proceeding.

re funding of material and equipment for new chapters

I dont think we've made a general policy decision on that. But I'd be concerned that in any specif case its hard to predict how successfully good intentions will translate into substantive contributions.

For example if a team had already acquired a track record by (for example) ....
* using a local makerspace or shapeways for fabrication
* demonstrating quality assembly
* identifying a team
* providing one or more devices to documented recipients through EnableWebCentral)
* demonstrated some success at raising money locally
...I'd be inclined to vote for matching funds.

That's just an example to illustrate the kinds of reservations community members might have, and to illustrate how a new chapter might address them.

I agree and the REL affords a great opportunity to avoid the annual grieve of a 501c3. In short 10% fees will probably be less over the long run than the costs to maintain and register a corp. or 501c3.

Rich

Rich Brown,D.C. President, Handling The Future, Inc. Picture

Senior citizen volunteers from diverse professional business backgrounds
who, as a group of individuals from a private community in the Tampa Bay
Region, are affiliated as a chapter with and to assist the global e-NABLE network WWW.EnablingtheFuture.org ( http://WWW.EnablingtheFuture.org )

Handling The Future, Inc. (WWW.HandlingTheFuture.com ( http://WWW.HandlingTheFuture.com ))
purpose is to achieve through creativity and
education the Three-Dimensional (3D) printing quality that provides a potential
solution to those who have all or partial loss of a hand either from birth or
trauma. The use of 3D printing is also being explored for use in other disabilities.

Handling the Future, Inc. Is a registered Florida Non-Profit Corporation and a 501(c)3 Charity REGISTRATION #: CH54785 - A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE
(800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT,
APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

I Agree that incorporating and seeking out tax-exemption is hard and not for everyone.
In the United States, REL should be sufficient to relieve regional chapters from the burden of seeking out 501c3 status. But remember that e-NABLE chapters exist not only in the USA. It is unclear how effective a chapter on any particular country will be able to persuade their government or local sponsors to send money to a foreign entity.

Talking from experience, in Mexico tax-exempt status is the key differentiator between panhandling for private donations for getting by or establishing a Foundation with formal, permanent funding channels. The Mexican Department of Health and Human Services funds ALL worthy causes. There are also several private entities that actively seek out beneficiaries. But guess what all of these have in common? You must be a tax-exempt organization!
This is just Mexico, there surely are similar situations globally.

I would root to support startup FILING and ADMIN fees for new chapters OUTSIDE the USA, when its reasonably expected to enhance or even enable the flow of local funding.

Hi Marco:
Yes, in the US they also want 501c3 status for most grants or donations.

Rich Brown,D.C. President, Handling The Future, Inc. Picture

Senior citizen volunteers from diverse professional business backgrounds
who, as a group of individuals from a private community in the Tampa Bay
Region, are affiliated as a chapter with and to assist the global e-NABLE network WWW.EnablingtheFuture.org ( http://WWW.EnablingtheFuture.org )

Handling The Future, Inc. (WWW.HandlingTheFuture.com ( http://WWW.HandlingTheFuture.com ))
purpose is to achieve through creativity and
education the Three-Dimensional (3D) printing quality that provides a potential
solution to those who have all or partial loss of a hand either from birth or
trauma. The use of 3D printing is also being explored for use in other disabilities.

Handling the Future, Inc. Is a registered Florida Non-Profit Corporation and a 501(c)3 Charity REGISTRATION #: CH54785 - A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE
OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE
(800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT,
APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

This thread was meant to get us thinking about this particular need and I believe it has achieved its purpose. Each case is different based on the region or maturity of the chapter.

Summarizing the comments above, this would be my conclusion :
Each startup grant request will have to be analyzed for identified needs, geographical necessities, potential to enhance fundraising efforts, and of course track record (as a measure of commitment).

@jonschull could we discuss outlining a standard during the next SPC meeting?

@marcovaquera1 We can absolutely discuss it at the SPC meeting, but this forum may well be the place to begin drafting it. (You go first!)

Haven't dropped the topic. Im still thinking!

Couldn't have said it better!

"Proven" and "commit" are the keywords here.